Information Diet

In an economy where attention is worth billions, it is difficult to limit the inputs our minds have access to. The rat race of trying to keep up never ends. Herbert Simon, a Nobel Prize winner in Economics, coined the term "attention economy" to explain that what is lacking isn't information, but attention. As more and more knowledge is available at a one-click distance, it is necessary to strategize the efficient allocation of our attention to the various sources of information.

Simon, at the time, pointed out that system designers were building tools that provided more and more information, when in fact, what was needed were systems to filter out the irrelevant. If this was the case in 1971, the necessity is even greater now. But perhaps what is missing is not another app or a complex piece of software.

What is missing is the ability to feel calm, concentrated, and at peace, at will. That is, on command, having the ability to sit quietly and focusing on what really matters. This task isn't as straightforward as we would like, especially due to all the information consumed that is harming the ability to create meaningful work. It's interesting how we can easily point out what things we are eating that don’t contribute to better health. But we can't decipher that a considerable amount of information we consume is not doing any good either.

Ryan Holiday, the author of "Stillness is the Key", suggests doing an Information Diet — rigorously cutting TV, news, social media, and other sources of media consumption. The purpose is not to become ignorant, but rather wisely selective on what is filling our attention.

When I was 18 and moved out of my parent’s home, I stopped watching TV. This was a conscious decision to better manage my time and dedicate it to reading and learning about different topics. Still, I remember feeling uninformed when people mentioned the last-minute breaking news. It was my decision to stay out of the "keep track of everything" mindset, but it still felt wrong. As if it was wrong to consciously determine what to dedicate my attention to…

"How different would the world look if people spent as much time listening to their conscience as they did to chattering broadcasts? If they could respond to the calls of their convictions as quickly as we answer the dings and rings of technology in our pockets?" — Ryan Holiday